Norwich City is the perfect club for Tim Krul insists the Dutch international.

Krul has been a revelation since the Canaries helped resurrect his injury-hit career, following a free transfer in 2018, and that sense of loyalty is why he did not look to jump ship following Premier League relegation.

City’s reigning player-of-the-year is now on target to be part of Holland’s bid for Euro glory at next summer’s delayed finals, and Krul feels he can achieve that by staying at Carrow Road.

“I don’t want to be the second goalkeeper on the bench at a Premier League club,” he said. “At my age, playing is the most important thing and now I can show myself every three, four days.

“What also plays a role is the way we want to play at Norwich City is similar to the Oranje, we also build from behind. If I did choose a Premier League club that ended up in the relegation zone and only playing a long ball game then I will be less attractive to Oranje.

“I hope I get the chance now. It is up to me to show that I have added value for this team.”

Krul made his first competitive appearance for his country since damaging knee ligaments five years ago in Sunday’s 3-1 Nations League win over Bosnia.

The City number one is poised to retain his place for Wednesday’s crucial away game in Poland, with first choice Jasper Cillessen injured.

The Dutch need to better group rivals Italy’s result in Bosnia to qualify for the final stages of the tournament, but that type of pressure is what Krul craved when he was injured on the sidelines.

“I mainly try to enjoy the moment now; how I enter a game, how I stand on the field. Because I know things can change quickly,” he said, quoted in Dutch newspaper Trouw. “Physically and mentally I feel better than ever.

“If someone tells you your recovery will take nine to twelve months, then as a top athlete you will go for nine months. But after twelve months I still had pain in that knee every day. Then you start to doubt yourself.

“At Brighton, where I went a year later (after leaving Newcastle), I sat on the bench every week, but by training hard every day I re-discovered my faith and love for football there.

“There I said to myself, ‘I am too young to spend years on the couch’. With that belief I decided to go to the Championship and Norwich.”